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Later Reformers
119
chose to obey the word of God in preference to the traditions of
men. At last this noble woman was seized and thrust into prison.
The charge brought against her was that she taught only five days
in the week, and rested on Saturday, it being known that she did it
in obedience to the fourth commandment. She was accused of no
crime; the motive of her act was the sole ground of complaint.
She was often visited by her persecutors, who employed their
most wily arguments to induce her to renounce her faith. In reply,
she begged them to show from the Scriptures that she was in error,
and urged that if Sunday were really a holy day, the fact must be
stated in the word of God. But in vain she asked for Bible testimony.
She was exhorted to smother her convictions, and believe what the
church declared to be right.
She refused to purchase liberty by renouncing the truth. The
promises of God sustained her faith: “Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison that ye may be tried.” “Be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.” [
Revelation 2:10
.] For nearly sixteen
years this feeble woman remained a prisoner, in privation and great
suffering. The book of God alone can testify what she endured
during those weary years. Faithfully she witnessed for the truth; her
patience and fortitude failed not until she was released by death.
Her name was cast out as evil on earth, but it is honored in the
heavenly records. She was registered among the number who have
been hunted, maligned, cast out, imprisoned, martyred; “of whom
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the world was not worthy.” “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord
of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” [
Malachi 3:17
.]
God has, in his providence, preserved the history of a few of
those who suffered for their obedience to the fourth commandment;
but there were many, of whom the world knows nothing, who for
the same truth endured persecution and martyrdom. Those who
oppressed these followers of Christ called themselves Protestants;
but they abjured the fundamental principle of Protestantism,—the
Bible and the Bible only as the rule of faith and practice. The
testimony of the Scriptures they thrust from them with disdain. This
spirit still lives, and it will increase more and more as we near the
close of time. Those who honor the Bible Sabbath are even now
pronounced willful and stubborn by a large share of the Christian